I never imagined that one day Id be arguing with my parents and brother about splitting up our familys property, with everyone shouting and trying to prove a point. Im an adult now already in my twenties and eager to stand on my own two feet but my brother is only fourteen. Why would he need a flat? He hasnt even finished school yet; hes still wet behind the ears.
Our parents see him as a child, and I do as well. The only difference is that Im at university, working part-time, and living in a flat that used to belong to my father, which he inherited from his parents. He offered me the place when I told him I wanted to live by myself and was ready to rent somewhere.
It was a generous gesture from my parents, and I started fixing up the flat bit by bit, hoping that one day it might properly become mine. The arguments began after a falling-out with my father. I cant even remember why we argued, but it hurt him deeply when I said I could take care of myself.
Thats when we had the family meeting. My parents told me that if I was so independent, Id need to move out; they planned to let the flat and, in any case, insisted it wasnt just mine that my brother depended on it as well.
It seems pointless to ask what the trouble is. Surely I could keep this flat, and my brother could have the one where our parents live now. But no theyre willing to let us both sell the properties so that we might each receive a decent sum and buy our places.
Im totally against this. Why go through all the hassle, pay an estate agent, pay the stamp duty and all the other fees, when we already have two perfectly good flats to live in?
But what troubles me most is that my own parents are ready to turn me out just because I wanted to stand on my own. Perhaps theyll cool down, reconsider, and well all make up. For now, though, Im in no mood to be the first to reach out. Their stance seems foolish, and my brother just sides with them because hes so young. It feels like theyre pushing us against each other, so well eventually fall out and end up selling everything anyway.
Looking back, its clear that family isnt about who gets what, or who wins an argument. The most important thing we own, really, is the trust and understanding we share. Holding onto that is worth more than any flat or any amount of money.
